Milling machine



F. c. ALLEN MILLING MACHINE Aug. 6, 1929.

Original Filed Jan. 14. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. C. ALLEN MILLING MACHINE Aug. 6, 1929.

Original Filed Jan. 14.1922 2 sheets-sheet 2 mi f an I IIIII I llll I III] Reissued Aug. 6, 1929.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK C. ALLEN, 0F HARTFORD/CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, '10 KEARNEY & TRECKER CORPORATION, OF WEST ALLIS, WISCONSIN; A

CQRPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

MILLING MACHINE.

I Original No. 1,543,242, dated June 23, 1925, Serial No. 529,333, filed January 14, 1922. Application for reissue filed June 17, 1927. Serial No. 199,615.

This invention relates to milling machines and particularly to an improved spindle supporting overarm construction therefor. Mllling machines of the column and knee type, wherein a cutter is supported for operatlon on work mounted on a knee at'the side of the column, require an overarm thereon for rigidly supporting the cutter on the column. In vertical spindle milling machines, the overarm is adapted to mount and entirely support the spindle above the knee, whlle 1n horizontal spindle milling machines the spindie is mounted horizontally in the column and. the overarm isprovided with an out bearing hanger at its outer end for supporting the outer free end of a horizontal cutter 1 arbor mounted'in the spindle. The primary object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved overarm construction of the type stated which is adaptable either to a vertical spindle milling machine, ahorizontal spindle milling machine or to a milling machine combining both horizontal and vertical spindles. i

It is an object of the invention to provide in combination-with a milling machine column, an overarm construction comprising a mam overarm adapted tobe mounted on the column and a plurality of bracing elements,

therefor extending from the column to the outer end of the overarm, the construction being such as to support the cutter spindle more rigidly than has been done heretofore. It is another object of theinvention to provide a'milling machine comprising a column with a horizontal spindle thereinin combination with two overarms, one such overarm being adapted only to support the outer end of a horizontal cutter arbor and the other overarm being furthermore provided with a vertical spindle therein and means for driving the same from the said horizontal spindle, meanstor securing'either overarm to the column and a plurality of bracing elespecification, I have shown certain embodiments otmy invention 1n a mllling machine but 1t WJll be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a milling machine column provided with one form of my improved spindle supporting overarm construction.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

-Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the overarm and the out-bearing hanger thereon.

Fig. 4: is a vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the column shown in Fig. 1 provided with my improved combined vertical and horizontal spindle supporting overarm.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a front end elevation thereof.

In horizontal spindle milling machines of the column and knee type, the cutter arbor is supported between the spindle in the column and an out-bearing hanger at the end of an overarm on the column. My invention comprises an improved overarm construction for this purpose wherein, in addition to the usual overarm, there is provided two spaced bracing bars extending outwardly from the column at opposite sides of the spindle and having their outer ends secured to the downwardly extending outer end of the overarm, the arrangement being such as to form a rigid truss-shaped spindle supporting overarm and construction over the work support. This same arrangement may in like manner he applied to a vertical spindle milling machine or to a combined vertical and horizontal therebetween for the operation of the vertical spindle, as illustrated in Fig. 8. It will be understood that the column andbracing bars shown in all figures of the drawings are the same, such construction being adapted to ways as illustrated particularly in Figs. 1, 2,

6 and 7. The column is adapted to have mounted thereon either a horizontal spindle supporting overarm of the type illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of a vertical or vertical and horizontal spindle overarm of the type illustrated inFigs. 5 to 8.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, a hollow arm 7 is provided with spaced front and rear guideways 8 and 9 adapted to cooperate with the front and rear guideways 5 and 6 on the col umn. The overarm is provided with bottom walls 8 and 9 respectively connecting the outer portions of the front and rear guideways. Such guideways are slotted transverse ly at 10 and 11 whereby to provide front and rear flexible guideway portions 12 and 13. Through bolts 14 are provided for drawing the'fiexible portions 12 and 13 into tight clamping engagement with the column guidewa s 5 and 6.

XS illustrated in the drawings, the arm is adjusted to its rearmost position on the column. The same may be adjusted forwardly the distance of the rear overhanging portion thereof shown in Fig. 1. means for so adjusting the arm is illustrated as comprising a screw 15 rigidly secured to the column and extending longitudinally of the overarm. A spiral gear 16, mounted on a bracket 17, threadedly engages the screw. A shaft 18 also mounted in the said bracket transversely of the screw is provided with a spiral gear 19 thereon in mesh with gear 16. The bracket 17 and its several elements may be assembled in the overarm through a large opening 20 thereinQthe bracket being pro-Q vided integrally with a plate 18' adapted to be secured to the'overarm-by screws 19 to support the bracket. and form a. cover for the said opening. Rotation of the shaft 19 is adapted to rotate the gear 16 on the screw and move theoverarm longitudinally on the column.

As will "be noted, the overarm may be clamped in any of its adjusted positions by tightening the nuts 14 on bolts 14.

The forward end of overarm 7 is curved downwardly and is provided with a spindle supporting out-bearing hanger 21 mountedin a horizontal guideway 22 therein. The outbearing hanger may be secured in position by means of clamping bolts 23. Combined: with theoverarm 7 for the purpose of providing an exceedingly rigid overarm construction is a pair of'bracing bars 24, such construction constituting the principal novelty, of the invention. The downwardly extending portion of the overarm is provided on each side thereof with an opening 25 for receiving one end of each of the said bars, the other ends of the bars being mounted in the column. The overarm portlon' forming each opening 25 is split at 25 and provided with clamping screws 26 for drawing the said portions into tight clamping engagement with the bars. Through openings 27 are preferably provided in the column for receiving the bars 24. The column is slotted at 28 to provide resilient clamping portions 27. These portions may be drawn into tight engagement with the bars by means of through bolts 29 provided with nuts 29 on the same side of the column as the clamping nuts 14. It will therefore be seen that the main overarm 7 and bars 24 may be rigidly secured together into a single overarm construction and longitudinally adjusted bodily in the column or the bars 24 may be rigidly secured to the column and the overarm 7 adjusted longitudinally on the column and along the bars.

The overarm 7 is assembled on the colunnu in the following manner. The arm is suspended over the column with the rear ends of guideways 8 and 9 on the overarm directly in front of and in alignment with the front ends of guideways 5 and 6 on the column. The arm may then be moved rearwardly to engage the arm and column guideways, the nut 16 being threaded on to the screw 15 by rotating the shaft 19.

In Figs. 5 to 8, the column 1 and spindle 2 are the same as those shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The overarm 30 mounted on the column comprises a construction combiningboth a vertical spindle and a horizontal spindle overarm support: This overarm is provided with spaced front and rear guideways 31 and 32, the same as guideways 8 and 9 on the-overarm 7, and such guideways engage the column guideways 5 and'6 and may be secured thereto in the same manner. The overarm is also provided at its rear end with a like adjusting shaft 18 carryingta gear 19 in ,mesh' with a gear 16 mountedon'ia bracket The front end of overarm '30 is provided 1 with a vertical guideway 33 in which is ad justably mounted a head 34 supporting a vertical spindle 35. A screw threaded 'rod 36" secured to the head is threadedly engaged'by. a gear 37 journaled in the overarm. The gear 37 may be rotated to adjust the head verticall by means of a cooperating gear 38. provider? with an operating shaft 39. The

driving means for the spindle 35 comprises the following mechanism. -A gear 40 to which the spindle is splinedfor vertical movement is in mesh with a gear 41 on a verticalshaft 42. A bevel gear 43 on the shaft 42 is in mesh with two bevel gears 44 and 45 loose on a horizontal shaft 46. A clutch 47 splined to shaft 46 between gears 44 and 45 may be thrown in either direction by means of a handle 48 to operatively engage the shaft with either of such gears. The mechanism just described is mounted on the overarm.

The driving mechanism for the shaft 46 now to be described is mounted on the column. This mechanism comprises a spur gear 49 keyed to a sleeve 50 rotatable within bearings 51. These bearings are mounted on the column and are secured thereto by means of screws 52. A gear 53 also supported on the column in the'sa-me manner is in mesh with gear 49. In the driving position illustrated the gear. 53 is in mesh. with the aforementioned gear 4 on the spindle and the shaft 46 is splined for sliding movement within the sleeve 50. It is obvious that the vertical spindle may be driven in either direction from the horizontal spindle through the mechanism just described. I V

In addition to the vertical spindle illustrated it should furthermore be noted that the overarm 30 is also provided with an outbearing hanger 54 for supporting the outer end of a cutter arbor mounted in the horizon I tal spindle 2. The bracing bars 24 shown in Figs. 5 to 8 are secured to the column and in the overarm 1n the same manner as has been descrlbed in reference to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4. It will be noted that such bars are sufficiently spaced from opposite sides of thespindles to permit free opto the column in the position illustrated in eration of the vertical spindle 35 therebetween. The vertical spindle is adapted to be lubricated from an oil pot 55 formed in the top of the head 34 and the spindle operating gearing is adapted to be lubricated from an oil pot 56 formed in the top of the overarm 30. I

The overarm 30 is assembled on the column in the following manner. first removed from the column. The gears 49. and 53 are then mounted on and secured Fig- 6. The overarm, with its bracket 17 and mechanism supported thereon removed,

vis suspendedoverthe column with therear ends 'of guideways 31 and'32 on the arm -directly in front of 'andin alignment with the front ends'of guideways 5 and 6 on the "column, as has been described in' reference to the structure shown in Fig. 1. The arm is then moved rearwardly, the splined shaft 46 sliding within its driving sleeve 50 and the ,arm'and column guideways inter-engaging.

With the overarm in position on the column,

the bracket 17 a with its mechanism is secured to the overarm and the screw 15 is threaded The screw 15 is.

into the nut 16" and then secured rigidly to the column by screws 15.; lhe overarm may thereafter be adjusted on the column and be secured in adjusted position in the same manner as has been described in reference to Figs. 1 to 4.

The term overarm herein 1s sometlmes used to designate a structure consisting of one of I the arms 7 or 30 together with the bars or arms 24, and sometimes to designate one of the individualmembers. It will be obvious that, in effect, any of the individual members 7 or 30 or 24 are overarms which may be used in any combination to suit the need or convenience of a particular machining operation,

and for which any one may be considered as a bracing member or bar for either of the others with which it is used.

What I claim is: 1. In a milling machine, the combination of a column, a horizontal spindle therein, and

a cutter supporting overarm construction comprising a main overarm mounted on the column and two bracing bars therefor, the

bars being secured to the column adjacent opposite sides thereof, extending outwardly therefrom parallel to the spindle and beneath the overarm and secured to the outer end thereof over said work support, ,and'means I for securing the overarm and each of said bars to the column in the different adjusted positions thereof.

In a milling machine, the combination of a column provided with spaced front and rear guideways, an overarm mounted on the column and adapted to extend over a work support, the overarm being provided with spaced guideways slidably engaging the column guideways, means cooperating with the guidewa'ys for securing theoverarm to by a'relatively short longitudinal adjustment of the overarm to disengage the guideways thereof from the column guideways.

v i 4. In a milling machine,thecombination of a column, an overarm mounted on the column the column, the construction being such that the overarm can be removed from the column for horizontal adjustment and to extend over a work support, said overarm having guide portions fitting said column in a manner to restrain other over-arm movement during such adjustment a cutter spindle vertically mounted in the overarm over the work support, two bracing bars each slidably engaging said overarm and respectively located at opposite sides of said, spindle and means for securing the opposite ends of each bar with the column and in the end of the overarm over the work support.

5. In a milling machine, the combination of a column, a horizontal cutter spindle therein, a gear on the spindle, a hollow overarm mounted on the column and adapted to extend over a work support, a cutter spindle vertical- 1y mounted in the overarm over the work support, mechanism in the arm comprising a gear adapted to be driven from the spindle gear for driving the vertical spindle, two bracing oars guided in said column for movement relative to said overarm and respectively at opposite sides of the vertical spindle beneath the ovcrarm, means for securing the opposite ends of each bar in the column and in the outer end of the overarm, means for adjusting the overarm longitudinally thereof on the column and means for rigidly securing the arm to the column.-

6. In a milling machine, the combination of a column provided with spaced frontand rear guideways, a -cutter spindle, an overarm mounted on the column and adapted to extend over a work support, the overarm being provided with spaced guideways slidably engaging the column guideways, two bracing bars respectively at opposite sides of the spindle beneath the overarm, means for securing the opposite ends of each bar in the column and in the outer end of the overarm, and means cooperating with the guideways for securing the overarm to the column, theconstr'uction being such that the overarm can be removed from the column by a relatively short longitudinal adjustment of the overarm to disengage the guideways thereof from the column guideways.

7. In a milling machine, the combination of a column provided with spaced front and rear guideways, a gear rotatably mounted in the column, a hollow overarm mounted on the column and adapted to extend over a work support, the overarmbeing provided with spaced guideways slidably engaging the column guideways, a cutter spindle vertically mounted in the overarm over the Work support, mechanism in the overarm for driving the spindle and including gearing extending downwardly between the guideways and engaging thefirst mentioned gear, two bracing bars respectively at opposite sides'of thespindle beneath the overarm, means for securing the opposite ends of each bar in the column and in the outer end of the overarm, and

means cooperating with the guideways forsecuring the overarm to the column.

8. In a milling machine, the combination of a column, a horizontal cutter spindle therein, a hollow overarm mounted 'on the column mean bers spaced apart in a horizontal plane above said spindle and each adjustable both in said column and structure, and clamping means movable to move each member substantially in said horizontal plane and transverse to the adjustment of the members.

10. In a milling machine having a column, a horizontal spindle and an arbor supporting structure movable relative to said column, the combination of a plurality of members for the support of said structure from said column, said members being spaced apart in a horizontal plane above said spindle and each adjustable both in said column and support, and clamp means for said members adapted to move each member substantially in the direction of the other member both in said column. and in said structure.

11. In a milling machine having a column, a horizontal spindle and an arbor supporting structure movable relative to said column, the combination of a plurality of.members for the support of said structure from said column, said members being spaced apart in a horizontal plane above said spindle and each adjustable both in said column and structure, said column and structure eachproviding rigid portions of metal between said members, and a plurality of clamps for each member'respectively associated with said column and with said structure and each having an element movable to thrust the member with which it is associated against one of said por- 1Et)ions and-in the direction oi the other mem- 12. Ina milling machine the combination of a column, a horizontal spindle jo'urnaled at an upper level thereof, an overarm adjustable parallel with and above said spindle to project over a work support, said overarm having slide portions fitted with said column and restraining said overarm during said movement against other movement relative to said columns, and bracing means for said overarm including a plurality of members underneath said overarm and above said spindle and each slidably guided in said column for movement inparallelism with the adj ustment of said overarm and independently thereof to extend-over said work support, said members being spaced apart and the end of said overarm oversaid work support being slidably fitted with each member; whereby said members together provide additional along said members an restraining means during movement of said overarm. v V

13. In a milling machine the combination of a column, a horizontal spindle journaled at an upper level, thereof, a plurality of members in said column and spaced apart above said horizontal-spindle, each member being guided by said column for inde endent movement parallel with the axis 0 said horizontal spindle to project over a work suport, a housing mova ly guided onsaidmeinhers above said work su port for movement parallel with said horizontalspindle, and avertical spindle journaled in said housing for movement therewith between saidmember, said mem bers and the said position of thevertical spindle relative thereto providin at an upper level thereof, a pluralityf of V membersin said-column and spaced apart in V a horizontal plane above said horizontal spin dle, each member being guided by said column and independently movable parallel with the axis of said horizontal spindle to project over-a work support, a housing movably guided on said members for movement above said work support and parallel with said horizontal spindle, a carrier slidablyguided for vertical movement on said housing, and a vertical spindle journaled in said carrier in 'a position for its path of moveangles to a a resistance a ainst other vertical spin le movement ment therewith to lie between said members,

said members and the position of the vertical spindlepath relative thereto providing a resistance against undesired movements of saidvertical spindle which is substantial 1y equal for two opposite forces at right plane parallel with the'axis of both spindles. V a

15. In a milling machine the combination of a column, a horizontal spindle journaled at an upper level thereof, a plurality of members spaced apart in a horizontal plane above said horizontal spindle and independently movably guided in said column and projectin therefrom, a housing guided on said mem ers for movementrelative thereto and relative to said column and parallel with said horizontal spindle, a vertical spindle journaled in said housing for movement therewith and positioned'between said members whereby to provide a resistance against other movement thereof which is substantial- 1y equal for opposite forces at right angles to the plane parallel withboth said spin- 'dle's; and transmission mechanism for said spindles including a drive member within said column and common to, both said spin dles, and a train connecting said drive member with said vertical s indle and including ,in'the order mentione a plurality of elements connected to permit relative movement therebetweenand parallel with said horizontal spindle, a reversercarried by said housing, and a member fixed on said vertical spindle.

In witness whereof I hereto afiix'my signature. i

FREDERICK o. ALLEN.- 

